Category: E. coli O157:H7

114 Tons Of Spinach Recalled By Stealth

Thanks to FDA’s weekly Enforcement Report summary, another stealth recall has just seen the light of day.

Leading the list of Class 1 Food recalls in the Enforcement Report for February 8, 2012 is the following item:

PRODUCT
Robert’s S 1 cut leaf spinach; “Curly” spinach. There is no specific type of labeling on the 30 lb totes, except a small sticker label identifying the “pup” container which identifies the harvest date and the field. Field: Robert’s S 1. Harvest Date City: Uvalde, Texas. Farmer: Jimmy Crawford. Pup container #s: “11-21 2011 TIRO TRES FARMS Roberts S1”, “11-22 2011 TIRO TRES FARMS Roberts S1”, “11-23 2011 TIRO TRES FARMS Roberts S1”, “11-25 2011 TIRO TRES FARMS Roberts S1”, “11-28 2011 TIRO TRES FARMS Roberts S1”, “11-29 2011 TIRO TRES FARMS Roberts S1”. Recall # F-0643-2012

CODE
a) 11/28/2011;.11-21 2011; 11-22 2011; 11-23 2011; 11-25 2011; 11-28 2011; 11-29 2011

RECALLING FIRM/MANUFACTURER
Tiro Tres Farms, Eagle Pass, TX, by letters on December 31, 2011. Firm initiated recall is ongoing.

REASON
Product tested positive for E-coli O157:H7.

VOLUME OF PRODUCT IN COMMERCE
228,360 lbs

DISTRIBUTION
CO, KY, MA, PA, and Ontario and Quebec, Canada

If this recall had been publicized – WHICH IT WAS NOT – the news release might have read, “Tiro Tres Farms (Eagle Pass, TX) voluntarily recalls 228,360 pounds of Robert’s S 1 Cut Leaf “Curly” Spinach, due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The spinach was packed in 30-lb totes, bearing harvest dates of 11/28/2011, 11-21 2011; 11-22 2011, 11-23 2011, 11-25 2011, 11-28 2011 or 11-29 2011 and was distributed in Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. In addition, some of the spinach was shipped to Ontario and Quebec, Canada. The recall was initiated after a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7.”

Neither FDA nor Canada’s CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) carried a notice of this recall.

This recall was initiated by Tiro Tres Farms and announced – ONLY by letters to the company’s customers – on December 31, 2011. The recall is ongoing, and there is no indication in the Enforcement Report whether the spinach was sold by retailers, or how much of the product was actually recovered. By now, of course, the recalled spinach has expired.

As far as I can tell, there were no illnesses associated with the recalled spinach.

I realize that not all recalls are created equal, and that not all recalls require public notification. But I cannot understand the rationale behind NOT publicizing a Class I Hazard recall of a ready-to-eat item of produce that may be contaminated with a potentially lethal pathogen.

Would anyone care to explain this to me?

Recalls and Alerts: February 7, 2012

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

United States

  • Food Safety Recall: Bost Distributing Company, dba Harold Food Company (Bear Creek, NC) recalls Harold Food Co. Grand Strand Deluxe Chicken Salad (30-lb boxes; Sell by 2/15/2012; Est No. P-20479), because the products contain hard-cooked eggs that were recalled by Michael Foods Inc. due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: USDA releases retail distribution list for Cobb and spinach salads that were recalled by F&S Produce Company Inc. due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Conservas La Torre S.A. de C.V. (Mexico) that an August 2011 inspection of the company’s acidified foods facility revealed serious deviations from the acidified food regulation (21 CFR Part 114) and emergency permit control regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Ocean Food Company Ltd. (Toronto, Canada) that an evaluation of the company’s two submitted HACCP plans and the additional supporting documentation revealed serious deviations from the requirements of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Seattle Roll Bakery (Seattle, WA) that an August 2011 inspection of the company’s bakery revealed serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Visoy Food, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) that an October/November 2011 inspection of the company’s manufacturing facility revealed serious violations of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 110 (21 CFR 110), the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Frog Island Seafood Inc. (Barco, NC) that environmental samples analyzed as part of an August 2011 inspection of the company’s food manufacturing facility revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the facility, including on food-contact surfaces. In addition, the inspection significant violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Sam’s Marketing Inc. dba CoCo’s Fish Market (Honolulu, HI) that a March/April 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Inter-Fret Importers recalls Hafiz Habib-Ur-Rehman brand Kafiz Ka Multani Sohan Halwa (500g; square and circular containers; No lot/date codes), due to the presence of undeclared tree nuts. The recalled products were distributed in Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: New Middleast Supermarket (1755 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON) recalls Finely ground beef used for making Kebbeh (served from the fresh meat counter in plastic bags wrapped with paper; variable weight packaging), because the product may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. One confirmed illness has been associated with the consumption of this product. The recalled finely ground beef was sold on December 28th and 29th from the New Middleast Supermarket, 1755 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Natco Foods Limited withdraws Gluten Free Gram Flour (2kg; Best before October 2012; Batch code 110420 BN0509), due to the presence of elevated levels of gluten in the product.
  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): ISFI recalls Ground Nutmeg (500g; Lot #PO18793 and PO17301; Use by 12/2015 and 11/2015, respectively), due to levels of aflatoxin B1 that are slightly in excess of allowable limits.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Hilton Foods Denmark recalls Minced pork/veal, 8-12% (500g pkgs; Batch #400246504A; Produced 24.01.2012; Best before 31.01.2012), because Salmonella was detected in a sample of the product.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Spain): Kern Pharma, S.L. recalls Inzitan, 6 ampoules (Lot #E003; Expiry March 2013), due to the presence of glass particles in an ampoule.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Spain): Mundipharma Pharmaceuticals S.L. recalls Hidrocloruro de Bendamustina, 2.5 mg/ml concentrated powder for perfusion solutions (Investigational medicine; Lot #1010035; Expiry 31/10/2013), due to the presence of glass particles in several vials.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0190): Aflatoxins in ground nutmeg from Germany; distributed to Belgium and France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0191): Inadequate vacuum packaging of Ardennes pate from Belgium; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2012.0193): Salmonella Livingstone in meat and bone meal from France; distributed to Italy.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0194): Insect (larvae and beetles) infestation of dog food from Sweden; distributed to Iceland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0195): Unauthorized Rhodamine B in Indian sweet mix from Italy; distributed to Austria.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2012.0196): Salmonella Tennessee in organic soybean expeller from India, via Canada; distributed to Sweden.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Recalls and Alerts: January 16, 2012

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Ryt-way Industries LLC (Lakeville, MN) recalls BIGS Dill Pickle Sunflower Seeds (5.35 oz; Best by 08DEC2012 and 09DEC2012), due to the presence of undeclared soy. The recalled products were sold at Buehler’s Fresh Foods and Tops Friendly Markets.
  • Food Safety Recall: RSW Distributors, LLC (Forest City, NC) recalls Seasoned Cooked Beef (Diced) Manufactured by Culinary Standards (4 x 8-lb pouches; Est 8318; Produced Dec. 9, 2011), after a conveyor belt is damaged during production. There is a risk that small pieces of the damaged belt may have contaminated the recalled product, which was shipped to institutions for further distribution to schools in South Carolina, Tennessee and Washington as part of the USDA’s National School Lunch Program.
  • Consumer Product Safety Alert: Bed Bath & Beyond advises consumers to return Dual Ridge Metal Boutique tissue boxes, Model #DR9M, because the product may be contaminated with radioactive cobalt-60. The tissue boxes were sold in Bed Bath & Beyond stores in the USA and Canada since August 1, 2011.
  • Outbreak Alert: The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department (Michigan) is investigating seven cases of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses that developed during the Christmas/New Year holiday season. Four of the victims were hospitalized. The health department has determined that an ill food-handler at The Ambassador restaurant in Houghton, MI was the likely source of the outbreak.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The norovirus outbreak linked to Bob Chinn’s Crab House in Wheeling, IL has risen to 146 illnesses.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Viandes Giroux Inc. recalls Boeuf Haché Mi-Maigre (5-kg; Code #11DE21), due to contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled ground beef was distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutions in the province of Quebec.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Novartis Consumer Health Canada Inc. recalls Excedrin Extra Strength Caplets and Excedrin Tension Headache Caplets (All lots with expiration dates of December 20, 2014 and earlier), due to reports received from the USA of chipped and broken pills and inconsistent bottle packaging clearance practices, which could result in the bottles contain foreign tablets, caplets or capsules.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall (Update): Toy Land Company (Vancouver, BC) recalls Heart-shaped pendants and plastic plug bracelets, after Health Canada finds that the childrens’ jewellery items contain lead in excess of the allowable limit. The recalled products were imported from China and sold across canada from 2006 to 2011.
  • Consumer Product Safety Alert: Bed Bath & Beyond advises consumers to return Dual Ridge Metal Boutique tissue boxes, Model #DR9M, because the product may be contaminated with radioactive cobalt-60. The tissue boxes were sold in Bed Bath & Beyond stores in the USA and Canada since August 1, 2011.
  • Outbreak Alert: Student journalists attending the Canadian University Press’s 74th National Conference in Victoria, BC were stricken with an outbreak of nausea and vomiting during the conference. The outbreak is most likely due to Norovirus.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Denmark): Koh-A/S recalls Gold Vang Carrot Buns (Best before 19.01, 20.01, 22.01 and 23.01), because the product may contain traces of undeclared sesame.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): REWE Group recalls REWE frozen rainbow trout (500g), due to the presence of the unapproved drug, malachite green.
  • Contact Lens Safety Recall (Spain): Johnson & Johnson Medical Iberia recalls Acuvue® Oasys® (senofilcon A) contact lenses (Lot #L001RJ5/-2.00D, Lot #001RJ8/-2.75D and Lot #001RJ9/-3.00D), because the contact lenses were found to have higher than expected levels of a diluting agent.
  • Contact Lens Safety Recall (Italy): Johnson & Johnson Vision Care recalls  Acuvue® Oasys® (senofilcon A) contact lenses (Lot #L001RJ5/-2.00D, Lot #001RJ8/-2.75D and Lot #001RJ9/-3.00D), because the contact lenses were found to have higher than expected levels of a diluting agent.
  • Medical Device Safety Recall (Italy): Wright Medical Technology recalls Dynasty® Biofoam Cups due to a packaging defect that could result in contamination with polypropylene particles. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of affected products.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Chinese Medicine Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health has received a report of a case of aconitum alkaloid poisoning that may be associated with the consumption of a Chinese herbal medicine. The case is under investigation.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Gippsland Sprout Co. recalls Gippsland Sprout Co Mung Beans (200g package; Use by 15 Jan and 17 Jan) and Flowerdale Farm Mung Sprouts (200g package; Use by 15 Jan and 17 Jan), due to contamination with E. coli. The recalled products were sold through Melbourne Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market (Footscray), small grocery stores (including Inverloch Foodworks) and green grocers in Victoria.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.